China hell bent to deprive Ukraine of electronics

From the UNIAN:

"China is hindering drone production in Ukraine: media reports details

Kristina Kazakova, 29.10.25

Beijing is blocking attempts by the Ukrainian defense industry to import Chinese electronic components through allied countries such as the Baltic states and Poland, German outlet  NTV reports. 

"The Chinese government is now even banning the supply of components to these countries, knowing they will then end up here in Ukraine," Yuriy Lomikovsky, co-founder of Iron, a network of Ukrainian and international defense companies, told several media outlets. 

The article claims that the Beijing government is deliberately restricting supplies to undermine Ukrainian drone production, as these weapons have become decisive in the fight against Russian troops...

According to the publication, China's export restrictions are hitting Ukrainians hard and jeopardizing their success on the front lines. Specifically, drone engines, batteries, and flight control systems are predominantly sourced from China...  

The drone industry is heavily dependent on imported Chinese components, as only about 40 percent are produced locally. Therefore, as the publication reported, Ukraine is attempting to obtain the necessary drone components through more indirect routes, such as trading with American companies that have production facilities in Europe...

The article emphasizes that despite Beijing's official declarations of "neutrality" in Russia's war against Ukraine, Chinese components have been repeatedly found in Russian weapons, and not just drones. The EU and the US have also expressed suspicions that Chinese companies are helping Russia circumvent restrictions imposed on the country in the energy sector."  

US vacillations on Ukraine threaten with nightmare scenario

From the Hill (also on Yahoo!News):

"Trump needs to step up and get serious about Ukraine

by Joseph Bosco, opinion contributor   - 10/28/25

 

Several times over the last two weeks, President Trump has reversed his Ukraine policy, veering wildly between his default position of flattering and making concessions to Vladimir Putin to pressuring him for some flexibility on a ceasefire...

Trump may not appreciate the comparison, but his erratic policy shifts partially mirror former President Biden’s own vacillations on the proper response to Putin’s aggression.  

Biden said at first he would accept “a minor incursion” by Russia and rejected a no-fly zone for fear of triggering “World War III.” He vetoed use of modern U.S. and German tanks and other Western weapons systems, only to reverse himself later. He hamstrung Ukraine’s ability to strike targets deep inside Russia, all while defining the conflict as an existential struggle for the peace of Europe and preservation of the international order. 

Taken together, as Putin and his allies in Beijing, Pyongyang and Tehran surely do, the series of Biden and Trump hesitations and tactical fluctuations convey a sense of U.S. strategic flailing and confusion. And that is just one phase of what could well become a three- or four-front war. Trump needs to take action now to prevent that nightmare scenario.  

Trump must recognize that the war in Ukraine is not a mere personality clash between two men who “hate each other” but the greatest outbreak of cross-border aggression in Europe since World War II. He must know that it was started (and has continued) only because of Russia’s ongoing invasion and war crimes, and that other hostile powers are part of the anti-Western offensive. 

Yes, the conflict started during the weak Obama-Biden and Biden-Harris national security terms, but it is festering under Trump-Vance and potentially spreading. Trump can change the dynamic if he finally unleashes Ukraine and empowers it to do what he said... is a realistic possibility: drive the Russian invaders out...

If we are witnessing the emergence of a new Trump, or at least a new Trump Ukraine policy, the first thing he should do is send the Tomahawks he dangled before Ukraine for a few tantalizing days until Putin, again, talked him out of it.  

Next, he should persuade America’s NATO allies to utilize the frozen Russian assets to purchase additional Tomahawks and other advanced weapons systems to impose an increasingly unbearable cost on Russia for continuing the war. China should also bear a cost through increased sanctions for supporting Russia’s aggression. 

Trump should also deliver a public ultimatum to Putin: unless he agrees quickly to end the war and withdraw completely from Ukraine, the U.S. will take a more active and direct involvement on Ukraine’s side, and will undertake a concerted effort to persuade NATO to admit Ukraine as a full member...

The offer would also send a message to China, Iran and North Korea that their days of terrorizing their neighbors and their own populations are rapidly nearing an end. Such an outcome would surely justify multiple Nobel prizes for Trump — one for each year one of the four world tyrants is peacefully toppled."

USA, like China, does not want Russia to fail and regards Ukraine as obstacle

From the Obozrevatel:

"China and the US are not interested in Russia's downfall: Pekar explained Trump's intentions regarding world order 

Nadezhda Danishchuk, October 27, 2025

The United States' key adversary in the 21st century is China. It was China that challenged the United States, and its position as the global hegemon is waning. But in this standoff, America and China share common interests: they both are not interested in Russia's downfall, and they do want Europe to weaken. 

Valeriy Pekar, a lecturer at the Kyiv-Mohyla Business School and the Lviv Business School of Ukrainian Catholic University, public figure, and entrepreneur, spoke in an exclusive interview with the Orestokratiya channel about why the world order has faltered and the role Ukraine plays in preserving it. 

According to him, both the US and China are interested in preventing Russia's collapse. But each country has its own goals and interests. 

Why the world order began to collapse 

After World War II, the United States became the most powerful country in the world, and the entire global order protected the US from being challenged. 

"Ultimately, the Soviet Union challenged the US but then collapsed, after which the US became the global hegemon," the expert explains. 

According to him, all American policy was focused on preventing any other country from growing to the point of challenging the United States. 

"But the entire global order has failed. China has managed, if not to catch up with America economically, then at least to catch up technologically and challenge the United States. This means that the global order no longer works and is no longer fulfilling its core function," says Valery Pekar. 

And now we see a rapid transition from a world ruled by agreements, alliances, and rules to a world in which there are only centers of power and weak countries forced to submit to them. 

"And in such a world, the fewer centers of power, the better," Pekar notes. 

This is precisely why neither the US nor China is interested in Europe becoming a separate center of power. Neither are they interested in Russia's downfall, although each country has its own reasons for doing so. 

Why China isn't interested in Russia's downfall 

 "China feeds off Russia's resources. It's not a fair alliance. China is essentially belittling, coercing, and stripping Russia—I would say robbing it—while simultaneously maintaining a minimal level of stability so it can continue the war," the expert explains. According to him, China needs this to weaken both America and Europe and put pressure on them. 

"That is, this is a battering ram with which China is 'grabbing the heat with someone else's hands,' trying to achieve its goals in Sino-European and Sino-American politics with someone else's hands," says Pekar. 

Why the US isn't interested in Russia's collapse 

The US is interested in preventing Russia from collapsing, because if it does, "then China will take everything," the expert explains. At the same time, the United States is trying to weaken Europe to prevent it from becoming a "center of power." 

"And Ukraine now appears to be such an annoying obstacle to the implementation of key American policy objectives. That is, while Ukraine stands and fights, Europe does not weaken, and Russia does not strengthen. And this Ukraine would need to be somehow 'crushed,' but this is impossible because American voters support Ukraine. This, in fact, defines the framework of current American policy: neither help nor hinder, but rather try to somehow advance its own interests in this conflict," says Valeriy Pekar."

Putin's goal is to destroy Ukrainian nation

From the Dialog, Oct 26, 2025:

"Chernik identified Putin's sole goal in the war in Ukraine: "There's no need to look for additional military logic" 

Military expert Petro Chernik recalled that the Kremlin's primary goal is to destroy Ukrainians as a nation. 

Ukraine faces a new challenge: KABs, which can fly much deeper into the country than previously possible, said Petro Chernik. The military expert also stated that Ukraine does not yet have adequate defense against this type of weapon. The Ukrainian Armed Forces officer also reiterated that Putin's goal in our war remains the same and has not changed: to completely destroy Ukrainians, so that this nation ceases to exist. Chernik expressed his views on the Army TV channel on YouTube...

Chernik responded to the question of what the enemy's goals are when using KABs: "Fear, fear, and more fear. We understand that this war is existential. Their goal is to destroy us. That's all. There's no need to look for any additional military logic here. This is an existential war: either they destroy us, or we destroy them."  

"This philosophy of inciting fear through the destruction of kindergartens, through the destruction of infrastructure, through the destruction of housing stock is clear evidence that nothing is changing for them. Let's put an end to this: nothing will ever change for them. This is who they are and will remain until they suffer a historic defeat," the Ukrainian Armed Forces officer concluded." 

Putin's gift of goodwill

From DonPress, Oct 26, 2025:

"Dmitriev brought a "gift from Putin" to the US

Kirill Dmitriev, Putin's special representative for investment and economic cooperation, brought chocolates with him to the United States featuring Putin's image and quotes. He posted a photo of them on his Instagram page, GORDON reports. 

 

The packaging, in addition to Putin's face, featured the inscriptions "We don't abandon our own!" and "Great words from a 'great' man." 

 

"Continuing the Russia-US dialogue," Dmitriev, known as the Russian dictator's negotiator, captioned his post. 

 

Russian propaganda outlet RT claims Dmitriev brought the chocolates as a gift to the Americans. The channel published an image of the chocolates, citing marketplaces. Dmitriev himself reposted the propagandists' message on Telegram. 

 

Each candy has a cover with a quote from Putin. Among them: "Russia's borders never end," "We are ready to meet any challenge of the times and win!", and "If a fight is inevitable, strike first.""

How Russia plans to destroy Ukraine

From the Dialog, Oct 25, 2025:

"Portnikov explained how Putin hopes to defeat Ukraine, if not on the battlefield

Political analyst Vitaly Portnikov assured that Russia will try to destroy Ukrainians as much as possible. 

Russia cannot conquer Ukraine militarily, and Putin understands this, which is why he is trying to exterminate the country's population so that we cease to exist as a nation, stated Vitaly Portnikov. The publicist expressed his views on YouTube.

"It's clear what Putin wants to achieve. He wants to eat Ukraine from the inside, like a worm. He's actually fighting not the Ukrainian army, but the Ukrainian population, so that they pack their bags, leave the territory Putin considers his own, clear the land for future Russian settlers, so that Ukraine, even if it fails to be conquered, becomes uninhabitable. There are a multitude of different options," the journalist revealed the Kremlin's plans.

Portnikov then stated: "On the one hand, he could simply turn most of the country's territory, especially in the east and south, into an area uninhabitable. Yes, he'll take what he's taken, but what remains will be a wasteland without energy, without infrastructure, without anything. On the other hand, he could force most people to leave the country, that is, win demographically."  

"Before the war, Ukraine was larger than Germany territorially, but comparable in population. Now Ukraine is comparable to Poland, and after another two years of war, it will be comparable to Slovakia. This is also considered a goal. And this is not a new goal for the Russian state. All rival nations have always suffered such a demographic blow from the Russians by creating conditions impossible for them to live in," the political analyst shared his conclusions."  

Russian propagandist called for destruction of Ukrainian cities

From DonPress, Oct 25, 2025:

"Solovyov threatened Ukrainians on live television 

Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov has once again issued a series of threats against the civilian population of Ukraine. Solovyov made his latest round of threats on Russian federal propaganda television, Obozrevatel reports. 

 Solovyov gleefully declared that Putin's troops have begun to attack civilian infrastructure more frequently and threatened that normal life in major Ukrainian cities will cease to exist. 

"We've finally started to get it all. There will be no life in Kharkiv, Poltava, Mykolaiv, or Odesa. There will be no more of these cities, and there will be no more Kyiv, if civilians don't overthrow their Nazi regime," the propagandist declared."

Merkel aggrevated the situation in Crimea in 2014

From the Obozrevatel:

""There was a request": Lithuania claims Merkel obstructed Kyiv's defense of Crimea in 2014 

Katya Poplyuyko, 10/25/2025 

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel thwarted Ukraine's efforts to defend Crimea from Russian occupation in 2014. This involved the Russian seizure of the peninsula's parliament building, during which the Ukrainian side offered no resistance.

The corresponding statement was made by Jonas Vytautas Zukas, Commander-in-Chief of the Lithuanian Armed Forces from 2014 to 2019 and the country's representative to NATO, according to die Welt.

Merkel Influenced the Situation in Crimea in 2014 

 In his book, Zukas claims that Angela Merkel allegedly influenced the actions of the Ukrainian government during the occupation of Crimea, persuading them not to offer armed resistance to Russian troops.  

The former Commander-in-Chief of the Lithuanian Armed Forces noted that he was in Kyiv at the time, meeting with then-acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov. He recalled that, while discussing the reasons for the lack of resistance during the seizure of the Crimean parliament, he heard Turchynov say that "it was Merkel's request in a phone conversation."...

The article notes that Merkel has never been viewed unambiguously in Poland and the Baltic states. Her decision to support the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project after the occupation of Crimea in 2014 was viewed in Warsaw as a de facto gift to Moscow, which provoked harsh criticism..."

***   

To be fair, the pressure on Ukraine not to resist Russian aggression in Crimea in 2014 came mostly for then-US president Obama. 

Russia's cognitive warfare

From the Institute for the Study of War:

"Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 24, 2025

...The Kremlin continues its multifaceted cognitive warfare effort aimed at influencing US decision makers in Russia’s favor in response to recent US sanctions. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed on October 24 that Russian President Vladimir Putin “promised a stunning response not only to the Tomahawk missile deliveries…but to [any] attempt to carry out strikes deep into Russian territory.”[13] The Kremlin has recently been engaged in a cognitive warfare effort framing the potential US provisioning of long-range Tomahawk missiles or any long-range missile strike against Russia as a red line, including by issuing overt threats regarding Russia’s ability and desire to respond militarily to Tomahawk missile provisions.[14] The Kremlin’s threat of a military response to Tomahawk missile provisions is the most recent line in its long-standing rhetorical effort to convince the West that a Russian victory in Ukraine is inevitable due to Russia’s supposed military prowess and advantages over Ukraine and the wider West. Russia’s ongoing cognitive warfare effort to portray Russian victory as inevitable ignores the reality that Russian forces continue to make only minimal, grinding advances at disproportionately high casualty rates and that Russia is unlikely to obtain its strategic objectives in Ukraine by force in the short- or medium-term.[15] Russia often leverages threats, including nuclear saber-rattling, in order to obfuscate Russia’s own military weaknesses and false claims that the West and Ukraine are escalating the war in order to justify Russian escalations. ISW has observed the well-demonstrated pattern that Russia escalates its war in Ukraine as soon as it develops new weapons systems and tactics that Russia assesses will help its war effort. ISW assesses that Russia will continue to escalate the war at any moment of its choosing in the future, regardless of whether the West provides Ukraine with military assistance. The Kremlin notably has not offered any assurances that Russia will refrain from escalating its war in Ukraine even if the United States were to refrain from provisioning Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles.

Peskov also blamed Ukraine on October 24 for the “protracted pause” in negotiations and claimed that Europe is encouraging Ukraine’s unwillingness — a long-running Kremlin narrative designed to dually distract from Russia’s continued intransigence and discredit the current Ukrainian government and Europe.[16] Russia has repeatedly attempted to deflect blame for its lack of substantive progress toward peace in Ukraine, despite the fact that Russia remains unwilling to compromise on its war aims in exchange for peace.[17] Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently acknowledged that the West views Russia’s negotiating position as “maximalist” and stated that “Russia has not altered its positions” and that Russia expects that the “root causes” of the war to be addressed.[18] Lavrov has continued to define the root causes of Russia’s war in Ukraine as NATO’s eastward expansion and Ukraine’s alleged discrimination against Russian-speakers – similar reasons to those Russian President Vladimir Putin gave on February 24, 2022 when he launched the full-scale invasion.[19] Russian officials have repeatedly stated that Ukraine’s neutrality, alteration of NATO’s integral open-door policy, and the installation of a pro-Russian proxy government are the only conditions by which Ukraine and the West can address the supposed “root causes” of the war.[20] Zelensky, in stark contrast to Russia, has continually demonstrated Ukraine’s willingness to engage substantively in the peace initiative, including most recently by articulating his alignment with US President Donald Trump on implementing an immediate ceasefire.[21]

The Kremlin is attempting to weaponize reinvigorated US interest in bilateral cooperation with Russia and involvement in initiatives to return Ukrainian children to pressure the US administration.[22] Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed on October 24 that Ukraine and its allies are promoting an “anti-Russian smear campaign on the children’s issue” and that the US Senate is considering several “anti-Russian bills,” including a bill recognizing Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism for the “abduction of Ukrainian children.”[23] Kremlin-appointed Russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova recently implicated herself in the forced deportation and re-education of a Ukrainian teenager and admitted that she “stole” and re-educated the teenager into a pro-Russian ideology.[24] The Yale Humanitarian Research Lab estimates that Russia has likely deported upwards of 35,000 Ukrainian children, and ISW continues to observe reports that Russia maintains many “re-education” and militarization camps in occupied Ukraine and Russia.[25] Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov reiterated Russia’s desire to extend the New START Treaty despite recent US sanctions and claimed that “the first step toward cooperation could be the re-establishment” of dialogue on the treaty, which is set to expire in February 2026.[26] ISW continues to assess that the Kremlin remains committed to attempts to engage the United States on issues unrelated to Russia’s war in Ukraine in an effort to stall or bypass the negotiation progress and extract additional economic and political concessions.[27]..."

Mercenaries fighting for Russia ordered to kill civilians, children included

From the Obozrevatel:

""Liquidate everyone—women, children": GUR intercepts criminal order from Putin's mercenaries against civilians. Audio 

Daria Durova, October 24, 2025 

Russian occupiers are receiving orders from their commanders to kill Ukrainian civilians—even children. This "task," along with other units, has been assigned to Colombian mercenaries fighting against our country as part of the 30th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Combined Arms Army of the Central Military District of the Russian Federation.

The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine obtained an intercept of the corresponding conversation. The audio was released on October 24 on the GUR YouTube channel.

Evidence of another war crime by the aggressor state 

A radio intercept captured one of the field commanders giving an order in Spanish to execute Ukrainian civilians. "When there's fog, mist, so they can't be identified, liquidate all people who are enemies: on motorcycles, on bicycles, women and children, women and children!" he commanded, repeating the last phrase twice.   

The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense noted that the killing of civilians is a regular practice of the enemy's 30th Motorized Rifle Brigade, instigated by its command. 

On October 21 alone, its servicemen committed a cynical crime, shooting civilians near Pokrovsk. 

"Now the Russian command is attempting to extend this practice to foreign citizens fighting for Moscow, making them accomplices in crimes against the civilian population," the department noted."

Opinion: Trump will never confront Putin

From the Dialog, Oct 23, 2025:

"Zhdanov explained what Ukrainians need to understand once and for all: "150%" 

Military expert Oleh Zhdanov assured Ukrainians that Trump will not risk opposing Putin.

It's unlikely anyone knows yet exactly how Trump and Putin are connected, but it's clear that the US president isn't ready to openly oppose the Kremlin leader and clearly favors him, according to the military expert Oleg Zhdanov. He shared this on his YouTube channel.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces officer explained why one shouldn't expect "miracles" from the US President: "Let's not put on rose-colored glasses, like with the Tomahawks, to avoid disappointment later. I said right away: 'There will be no Tomahawks.' Trump and Putin's political games continue, and Trump is working 150% for Putin. What is Trump doing? With his statements, Trump constantly gives Putin a head start so that Putin can take concrete action. Trump doesn't take concrete action. He just talks."  

"Yesterday, news spread across all Telegram channels (everyone was spreading it), a report that The Wall Street Journal allegedly learned from its sources that Trump had lifted the ban on the use of Western weapons on Russian territory. Trump can do nothing to harm Putin. Understand that once and for all. He is completely dependent on him and completely under his control. As soon as Trump learned that he was credited with lifting the ban on the use of Western weapons on Russian territory, he immediately commented and said that he had not given permission for American missiles to strike deep into the Russian Federation," Zhdanov explained."

While Putin funds his aggressive war, Russian hospitals collapse

Because all finances of Russia are funneled to the war, nothing remains for the upkeep of the public sector, and it literally collapses.

I wrote before about collapsing schools. The photo below is the collapsed children's hospital in the Russian city of Novosibirsk. Like the school, it fell spontaneously, nobody bombed it. Source: Dialog, Oct 23, 2025.

 

Russian drone kills 84-yr-old goat herder (18+)

From the Obozrevatel:

"Occupiers in the Kherson region killed an 84-year-old woman who was herding goats. Video 

Katya Poplyuyko, October 23, 2025 

 In the Kherson region, Russian occupation forces killed an 84-year-old woman while she was tending goats in the village of Antonivka. The woman died on October 20 as a result of an explosive charge dropped by an enemy drone.

This was reported by the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Kherson region and Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Center for the Study of the Occupation. He added that the Russians, who came to "liberate" the area from supposed fascists, deliberately took the life of a civilian. 

 "In Antonovka, Russians dropped explosives from a drone on an 84-year-old woman who was on the street. She died instantly as a result of the attack," the law enforcement statement read. 

The grandmother didn't want to leave her animals. 

It's worth noting that American journalist Zarina Zabriskie, who now lives in Kherson and documents Russian war crimes, wrote about the dead woman, named Lora [i.e. Laura]. Several weeks before the tragedy, she spoke with the resident of Antonovka.

 

In September, Laura reported that her home had been destroyed by Russian troops, but she refused to leave her home village because she was caring for twenty goats. She also added that the occupiers had killed all the cowherds in her village.

The woman died on October 20 while tending a goat and a kid."

The video, showing Lora speaking, is in the original source.  

Zelensky: As soon as Tomahawks were off the table, Putin lost interest in diplomacy

From the Hill / Yahoo!News:

"Zelensky: Trump holding back Tomahawks deflated Russia’s interest in diplomacy

Filip Timotija, October 21, 2025

 

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky argued Tuesday that President Trump’s decision to refrain from sending long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine deflated Russia’s interest in engaging in diplomacy that could lead to the potential end of the war in Eastern Europe.

“The front line can spark diplomacy. Instead, Russia continues to do everything to weasel out of diplomacy, and as soon as the issue of long-range capabilities for us — for Ukraine — became less immediate, Russia’s interest in diplomacy faded almost automatically,” Zelensky said during his daily video address. “This signals that this very issue — the issue of our deep strike capabilities — may hold the indispensable key to peace.”"

German general: Ukraine should not expect Tokahawks in the foreseeable future because Trump is not its ally

From UNIAN:

"Will Ukraine receive Tomahawk and Taurus missiles? A German general gave a forecast 

Ekaterina Girnyk, October 22, 2025 

US President Donald Trump currently prefers to be a neutral mediator rather than a supporter of Ukraine, so it's unlikely that Tomahawk missiles will be deployed in the near future. Retired German Brigadier General Klaus Wittmann stated this in an interview with Ukrinform. 

He noted that even if Trump finally realizes that Putin is playing him, stalling for time, and doesn't want a potential ceasefire or peace, this doesn't mean he will decide to provide maximum military support to Ukraine. 

"He'll step aside and instead play the role of a neutral intermediary, not a supporter of Ukraine. And he sees the war against Ukraine more as a tantalizing obstacle, because he truly wants to restore normal relations with Russia, primarily economically beneficial ones. Therefore, the threat to Russia implied by the mention of a Tomahawk was neutralized by Putin's call even before the conversation with Zelenskyy. This is very disappointing, but Ukraine probably shouldn't expect a Tomahawk anytime soon," Wittmann emphasized."

How to save the future of Gaza

From the Obozrevatel:

"Hamas is training the children of Gaza to be shahids: how to solve the problem 

Dmytro Chernyshev, 22.10.2025  

About the children of Gaza. Part 2. (Part 1 is here.)

I'll try to express my personal, amateurish, and non-professional opinion. But first, let's define the criteria—what exactly is a solution to a problem? How exactly can we determine whether a problem has been solved? 

 It seems to me that the criterion in this case can only be one: will people stop killing each other here or not? Because the solutions being proposed now mean only one thing: in ten years, war will happen again. This means that this isn't a solution to the problem, but rather a transfer of it to future generations. It won't be today's Jews and Arabs who die, but their children. And then their children's children, and so on. Today, Hamas is committing a crime not only against Israel, but also against its own children, grooming them to become shahids. 

I would suggest breaking the solution down into three levels:

Short-term solutions (1-3 years): rebuilding Gaza, normalization, ending the indoctrination of hatred. 

Medium-term (5-10 years): a new generation with alternative values ​​and life prospects. 

Long-term (15-25 years): cultural transformation of the region. 

At the same time, it is crucial to understand where to find people, where to find law enforcement, and where to find money. But the solution to the Gaza problem must begin at the international level.  

1. Financing terrorism must be equated with terrorism. 

Currently, Arab countries, and Qatar above all, pay monthly allowances to the families of terrorists. The murder of one Israeli costs $400 per month. The murder of more than five Israelis costs $3,000 per month (10 times the average salary in Gaza). Life imprisonment in Israel is the maximum allowance. This costs $350 million per year, more than the Palestinian Authority (PA) spends on healthcare. Western countries also give money to the PA as "humanitarian aid." 

Any country that finances terrorism should be subject to very serious international sanctions. If Qatar continues this practice, the assets of Qatari foundations in the West should be frozen. The Palestinian Authority should cease payments or lose all international aid. Any financing of terrorism by the PA should result in the freezing of the bank accounts of PA leaders and the issuance of international arrest warrants (as for ISIS sponsors).

2. Liquidation of UNRWA 

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East was established in 1949 as a temporary organization. 75 years later, UNRWA perpetuates the problem, creates dependency on benefits, and perpetuates the myth of "return." Nowhere in the world does the concept of hereditary refugee status exist. A child born to refugees in another country is not considered a refugee anywhere. An exception is made only for Palestinians. Then the "Right of Return" disappears for 5.9 million people (they never lived in Palestine)—the main obstacle to peace. No benefits for "hereditary refugees."  

I'll add that UNRWA employees are affiliated with Hamas and support anti-Semitism. Twelve of them participated in the massacre. Their schools are used by Hamas to store weapons. 

3. Iran is the main sponsor of Hamas and Hezbollah

Iran provides Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorists with $700 million annually. This includes training militants and weapons (missiles, drones). A complete blockade of Iran's oil exports is needed. A complete disconnection from SWIFT is needed. Freezing the assets of the Iranian Central Bank. I'll add that this will also stop the Iranian nuclear program. 

4. Reform of the UN and International Institutions 

The UN's anti-Israel bias is a statistical fact. UN General Assembly resolutions (2015-2022) – against Israel: 112 resolutions; against Syria (500,000 killed): 22 resolutions. Against all other countries combined: 67 resolutions. 

Why is this happening? 57 Islamic countries vote as a single bloc. It's ridiculous. 2016 – The UN condemned Israel for "discrimination against women." Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia (women are not allowed to drive) and Iran (the hijab is mandatory) were not condemned. 2022 – Israel was condemned for "rights violations in the Golan Heights." Meanwhile, China (Uyghurs in concentration camps) was not condemned. 

The UN has completely discredited itself. The veto power that China and Russia have renders the organization meaningless. The creation of an "Alliance of Democracies" is possible, consisting only of countries with democratic governance. 

5. Reform of the International Criminal Court (ICC) 

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu (2024) for "war crimes" in Gaza. BUT! It did not issue a warrant for Hamas until October 7 (only after the massacre). It did not issue warrants for Iran's leaders (sponsors of terrorism). It did not issue a warrant for Putin until 2023 (despite Crimea in 2014 and Syria). 

6. Changing Narratives and Norms 

 For example, the definition of "occupation." Israel has been called the "occupier" of Gaza since 2005, even though Israel withdrew all troops from Gaza, dismantled all settlements, and handed over governance to the Palestinians. Gaza shares a border with Egypt, which Israel has no control over. 

After every war, Israel is accused of a "disproportionate response." If 100 Israelis and 1,000 Palestinians are killed, the conclusion is drawn that "Israel is using excessive force." But proportionality doesn't mean an equal number of casualties. Proportionality means proportionality to the goal. 

Hamas systematically uses civilians as shields. They install rocket launchers in schools, hospitals, and residential buildings. They place command centers under hospitals and military tunnels under homes. And when Israel attacks these targets, they blame Israel for everything. However, the responsibility lies with those who use civilians as shields. 

7. All Arab countries must recognize Israel's right to exist. Many still haven't done so. Children in Muslim countries must stop being taught anti-Semitic textbooks. Any calls to jihad must be met with international sanctions. 

This was about what needs to be done outside Gaza. The final part will be about resolving the problems within Gaza."

 

Why the summit in Budapest was not to be: Trump's worrying mental state

Interview of Ukrainian political scientist Vitaly Portnikov to Roman Pryadun in the Obozrevatel, 22.10.2025 (at that time, the Trump - Putin meeting in Budapest was not yet canceled):

"Several reasons why the Trump-Putin meeting in Budapest won't happen and why the US president made it all up. And why it doesn't change anything. An interview with Portnikov

- Regarding Budapest, Trump said the meeting was scheduled to take place in two or three weeks. But the news regarding its preparations is quite different. Lavrov and Rubio failed to agree on negotiations, which was predictable, given that Kremlin representatives unanimously declared "fulfilling the goals of the so-called 'CBO,'" not a ceasefire. But then why are these talks even taking place?

I think the very idea of ​​the Budapest summit was based on Trump's belief that he could negotiate an end to the Russian-Ukrainian war with Putin. Perhaps Trump did indeed speak with Putin about certain territorial concessions on Ukraine's part. Or perhaps, after meeting with Zelenskyy, he realized that Ukrainian troops will not retreat from the positions they hold in Donbas. Therefore, a ceasefire can only take place along the actual demarcation line. We don't know for sure. But the fact is that Russia is not abandoning the positions it has effectively held since 2022. That means first, "resolving the causes of the conflict" and a "peace agreement," and only then will the fighting cease. But Trump insists on the opposite: first a ceasefire, then negotiations. And he cannot afford another foreign policy fiasco like the one we saw in Anchorage. In fact, that is the essence of the current events.  

- Then why all this talk about Budapest? Trump comes out and declares: there's going to be a summit with Putin, get ready, everyone.

It doesn't matter what Trump says. I keep reminding people of this. In fact, the very practice of commenting on his words is already part of the political trap they want to lead us into. Trump already promised a bilateral summit between Putin and Zelenskyy after Anchorage. Then a trilateral one: Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy. None of that happened. As it turns out, he didn't even agree with anyone on anything. He said that India had halved its imports of Russian oil – that also didn't happen. In other words, Trump is making a multitude of statements that have nothing to do with reality.  

- However, these statements are damaging. They undermine the unity and pressure that Europe and Ukraine had been building, because the US is receiving a distorted message: that Trump has "understood" everything about Putin and Russia and is ready to apply pressure.

In fact, Trump couldn't care less what's happening in Ukraine, on the front lines. Yes, he knows that people are dying on both sides. And in this sense, for him, both Russians and Ukrainians are simultaneously victims of war. He wants to stop this killing, as he himself has said repeatedly. That's his position. And only then will he figure out who's right. It's exactly the same logic as in the Middle East.  

- Why, if the tactic of reaching an agreement with Putin doesn't work, is there no real pressure? 

Trump believes that pressure should be verbal, not practical. And, by the way, this could also be his calculation: if he starts acting tough and it doesn't produce results, he'll simply look weak. Because we must understand: even Tomahawks might not change the situation on the battlefield... 

This whole Trump "carousel"—up and down, now for Russia, now for Ukraine—is just a tactic. He wants to force Russia to agree to a ceasefire. And then force Ukraine to accept Russia's terms. That's the whole strategy. Nothing complicated. It's just that Russia hasn't agreed to a ceasefire yet. And Trump doesn't know what to do next.

- Why does Putin need Budapest? He says Russia has the upper hand on the front lines, is pressuring from all sides, is doing well economically, and so on.

Putin needs to keep Trump on balance to avoid new sanctions and additional weapons for Ukraine. This allows him to comfortably wage war for years to come, forcing Ukraine to capitulate and disappear from the world political map. If this requires flattering Trump, calling him, promising a new meeting, Putin will do it. 

 It could all fall apart now, but in a month or two, another call will come, and another meeting will be attempted. And so on—this card can be played until 2029.   

- If there are no concrete agreements, then there will be no Budapest?

Exactly. They won't meet because it would be a fiasco for Trump. What would he do if he walked out of the meeting without any results? It's a plus for Putin, but not a plus at all for Trump...

- It all looks like Trump is simply biding his time and is happy with the status quo – the way things are currently going.   

I don't rule that out either. 

- And Russia's scenario is: "Give us Donbass" – so that Ukraine refuses and Putin can say: look, they don’t want to give in? 

Of course. Firstly, Ukraine won't want such concessions; secondly, if it agrees, it will lead to internal destabilization, which will facilitate its dismantling as a state. The idea is simple: the population will tire of the confrontation, and then it will be possible to "reorganize" Ukraine's statehood. 

- European leaders are preparing to go to Trump again to convince him. Is he really a man convinced by the last conversation? This is already starting to look ridiculous. 

It's ridiculous, yes. But there's no other US president yet. And it's not just that he's the ultimate authority. The problem is that he's undergone some serious changes in recent years. Something's happened to his mental health. Look, I thought: if Trump talks about Budapest, it means Putin already understands that to restrain Trump from real action, he needs to make concessions. Now it's clear that's not the case. So, we can assume that Trump is either simply making something up (like in Alaska) or telling his own dreams. And the rest of the world is forced to live in his fictional reality—and no one can stop him. 

I don't rule out the worst-case scenarios—anything from behavioral changes to the onset of dementia. At the same time, no one in his inner circle can say outright, "Mr. President, your condition prevents you from working effectively." They're assenting because it's their career interests. And some of them may be counting on "waiting for his end."

- For his death? 

Something like that."

Russia kills whole Ukrainian families in one fell swoop

A drone attack on Oct. 22, 2025 in the village of Pogreby, Kyiv region, killed three members of the same family: Antonina Zaychenko (38), her only daughter Adelina Negoda (6 months), and her niece Anastasia Negoda (12). The victims and the resulting carnage are shown in the collage below. Source: Obozrevatel.

Russian military officials stated: "In response to Ukraine's terrorist attacks on civilian targets in Russia, the Russian Armed Forces launched a massive strike tonight using long-range, land- and air-based precision weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles, as well as strike drones, against energy infrastructure facilities supporting Ukraine's military-industrial complex... "The strike's objectives were achieved, all designated targets were hit."

The woman and the two children on the above photos were killed by a drone that flew directly into their home (the children's grandmother and grandfather survived because they were in another room). Ukrainian women and children are Russia's "designated targets".

Russia replaces the population of occupied Ukrainian territories

Translating from Faktor, Oct 20, 2025:

"Ghosts of the Empire: Putin Creates ‘New Siberia’ in Ukraine, Repeating Tactics of Tsars and the USSR

Maya Buyuklieva  

Moscow has launched a massive migration program that aims to permanently change the demographic makeup of the occupied Ukrainian territories. Under the guise of "returning local residents," the Kremlin is actually implementing a tried-and-tested imperial tactic - wiping out the local population and replacing it with loyal Russian citizens. This sinister plan, dubbed "New Siberia" by analysts, is not a new idea, but an echo of the darkest pages of Russian and Soviet history, writes United24media.com.

The New Siberia Plan: Baits for Settlers, Punishments for Locals 

According to the Center for National Resistance of Ukraine (CNR), Moscow's renewed migration policy envisages "creating conditions for the return of residents of Donbas, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions." However, the reality is radically different. Instead of facilitating the return of millions of Ukrainian refugees, Russia is organizing the resettlement of Russian citizens from distant regions such as Yakutia and Buryatia.  

This process effectively legalizes population replacement. New settlers receive generous incentives, such as free housing, financial assistance, and privileged access to jobs, especially in the local administration, police, and public institutions. 

At the same time, Ukrainians remaining in the occupied territories are under enormous pressure. Those who renounce Russian citizenship are now classified as "foreigners" in their own homeland. This deprives them of pensions, healthcare, and legal rights, and limits their stay to 90 days per year, a sure path to deportation. 

History Repeats itself: The Ghosts of the Russian Empire and the USSR 

What is happening today is a frightening repetition of methods used for centuries to consolidate imperial control. 

The policy of Tsarist Russia: As early as the 19th century, the Russian Empire purposefully settled Russian peasants in newly conquered territories such as the Caucasus, Central Asia, and even Ukraine itself. The goal was always the same – to reduce the percentage of the local population, suppress resistance, and impose Russian culture and language. 

Soviet tactics: The USSR took this practice to new heights. Stalin deported entire peoples—Crimean Tatars, Chechens, Ingush—and resettled Russians in their place. During industrialization, millions of Russians were sent to non-Russian republics to work in the new factories, forever changing the demographics of regions like Donbas, Latvia, and Kazakhstan. 

Today's "New Siberia" program is a direct successor to this imperial tradition, aiming for "Russification" through demographic, not just military, means. 

The Goal: Identity Erasure and Eternal Control 

The Kremlin’s ultimate goal is clear. By creating a new administration and society loyal to Moscow, Russia seeks to fully integrate the occupied territories and make any future attempt at de-occupation extremely difficult. 

 This is not just a war for territory, but demographic engineering aimed at erasing Ukrainian identity from these lands. By replacing the local population, Moscow is trying to secure lasting control that is not dependent solely on military presence, but is cemented in the very social fabric of the region. This is an attempt to annex not only the map, but also the hearts and minds of the people who will live there."

***

Actually, Russia has applied demographic engineering in Ukraine before, back in Soviet times, when Stalin starved millions of Ukrainians to death during the Holodomor and then replaced them with Russian settlers. This is why the eastern regions of Ukraine are Russian-speaking - a fact that Trump's minion Witkoff uses as an argument to insist that Ukraine cedes these regions to Russia. 

Russia bombs kindergarten

On Oct. 22, 2025 Russia hit a kindergarten in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv with 3 Shahed drones. The 2nd store of the building was completely destroyed:

 (Source: Dialog. There you can also see the drone strike captured on video.)

 Happily, the 48 children were evacuated in time and were not injured, at least not physically:

 (Source: Dialog)

At least 9 other people were injured, however, and one was killed: a 40-yr-old municipality employee who was at work during the attack, cleaning the street:

The victim Vitaly Sotnik (source: Obozrevatel)
 

 Reuters has a video about the atrocity.

Russian official tells how she broke a kidnapped Ukrainian boy

From the Dialog, Oct 21, 2025:

"Lvova-Belova confessed how she "broke" a Ukrainian boy from Mariupol: "He sang Ukrainian songs all the time"

Russian Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova has effectively confirmed the abduction of Ukrainian children, something she had previously repeatedly denied. In an interview, she admitted to "breaking" the will of an adopted boy from Mariupol, forcing him to renounce his Ukrainian identity.  

Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian dictator's children's rights commissioner, was issued a warrant by the International Criminal Court for the war crime of illegally deporting Ukrainian children. Despite her constant denials, in a recent interview she openly told the story of a Ukrainian boy from Mariupol whom she "adopted" after the city's occupation. 

According to Lvova-Belova, the child, named Philip, "brought negativity into their family" because he "had a special relationship with Russia." "He didn't want to live in Russia. He said he loved Ukraine and sang Ukrainian songs all the time," the official admitted. 

She added that the teenager expressed irritation toward Moscow, read Ukrainian news, and made no secret of his aversion to everything Russian. Lvova-Belova stated that she "spent a lot of time trying to change him" and ultimately "re-educated" the boy, ensuring that he "stopped thinking about Ukraine."  

According to the "children's rights ombudsman," the boy now allegedly "doesn't want to return to Mariupol." However, her words essentially confirm what the International Criminal Court accuses Lvova-Belova and dictator Putin of: the forced displacement and assimilation of Ukrainian children."

Russia openly rejects any chance of ceasefire

Translating from DonPress, Oct 21, 2025:

"Lavrov responded to calls for an immediate ceasefire

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that any calls for an immediate ceasefire without "eliminating the causes of the Ukrainian conflict" contradict the agreements Putin and Donald Trump reached in Alaska. His words are quoted by Russian media. 

"An immediate ceasefire in Ukraine would mean only one thing: the majority of Ukraine remains under Nazi control," Lavrov stated, continuing the Kremlin's usual narrative." 

***

That's why Ukraine must be given all the help it needs.